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Council formalizes Planning Commission appointment process to preserve transparency
Summary
The council approved a written process for Planning Commission vacancy advertising, interviews, nomination and recommendation to council; staff said the approach reflects a decade of practice and preserves training continuity for the commission.
The Mount Holly City Council approved a formal process for Planning Commission appointments at its April 28 meeting, placing in writing the steps staff and the commission will use to advertise vacancies, interview candidates and recommend appointees to council.
Planning staff explained the proposed process: the planning department and city clerk will advertise vacancies; staff will screen applicants for statutory eligibility; candidates will appear before the Planning Commission for interviews at a regular meeting; the commission will nominate and vote to recommend a candidate to council (Robert’s Rules of Order guiding nominations and votes). The council will then consider the recommended candidate for appointment to a full three‑year term or to complete an unexpired term.
Staff and council discussed why term limits are not common for planning commissions, noting training investment and the quasi‑judicial functions of the commission. Planning staff said they spend roughly $2,000 annually on member training and cautioned against removing many experienced members at once. Council indicated the written process is intended to increase transparency and repeated that staff would bring any proposed term‑limit changes back for consideration.
Action: Councilman Craig moved to approve the written appointment process; Councilman Meadows seconded. The motion passed by voice vote.
Next steps: The written process will be presented to the Planning Commission at its next meeting for implementation in upcoming vacancy recruitments.
